House Republicans have voted down an extension for the digital switch...

Give me a break. Those people had YEARS to get converter boxes. The coupon program has been around for a long time and I personally had no trouble getting coupons when it first started. I let my coupons expire as I eventually got digital TVs. As someone else mentioned, with the coupons you could get a converter box for around $10 - $20. The people who haven't gotten one aren't going to get one in the next 5 months either. I don't see why the rest of the country, and the businesses who purchased the soon to be defunct air signals, should have to suffer because 7% of the population refuses to keep up with new technology.

I don't really know enough about the specifics of the switchover to comment on the effect, if any, delaying it would have on the cable and satellite television companies. I do feel bad about the folks who put off getting the converter box and now can't but you can't please everyone.

Good God! They were free! You had over a year to get one! Read a book.

I think that this whole digital switch thing is happening too fast. I understand why it needs to happen, and support it happening eventually. But we need more subsidies for the program, rather than just the boxes. People actually need to buy whole new TVs. As far as I know, there's no program for that, and as sad as it is, a lot of people get the only news they get from network TV. The ending of free TV will mean the end of a lot of access to information for certain people who are not like me and internet-savvy. I don't think my grandmother would know how to turn a computer on.

The switchover has been in the works for several years now.Anyone that failed to get their coupon for the convertor box gets what they deserve.The government can't do everything for you.

What do you expect from the party of Corporate America? I don't understand why they would do this, if you are a republican I would call my representative today and tell them off. See the majority of the people that are going to be effect by this are OLD PEOPLE, many are part of the republican base. So now you have pissed off the part of your base that are almost a lock to vote in every election. What kind of sense does this make? I would have to agree with many on the far right, I don't know what the leadership of the republican party is thinking, but this sure isn't going to win them any elections anytime soon. Who does this help? I don't know why it would help the cable company, this gives them more time to sell more new units. I don't understand this one at all.

Hello Angusthethird, What do I think? I think that Deebomb has pretty much summed up this issue. Oh wait -- In point of fact, I have two salient comments to add: The first is that we Americans were first notified of the impending adoption of digital signal transmission in 1997! Yup, that's right -- we've had twelve years to adapt to this change. Forgive me if I fail to muster up any sympathy for those who 'feel burdened' by this earth-shattering intrusion on their lives. Over the course of twelve years, if someone purports that they've heard narry a mention of the fact that t.v. manufacturers and broadcasters were going to have to adopt a universally adapted dignal, then I must conclude that it was a matter of choice to not be apprised. And second: I can think of little more helpful to America today than for her people to be extricated from that little 'idiot box' in their living rooms! Take away the babbling 'talking heads' who tell us everyday what to think, how to feel, how to dress and eat, and what to value, and we might just start thinking for ourselves again -- and geesh, who knows where that might lead!!!

Of course, the Republicans don't care about the poor people who can't afford the converter boxes. They don't deserve to be able to watch TV...after all, they're just lowly poor people! The Republicans don't want to learn because they don't think they have anything TO learn. Annie

I was a little aprehensive about the whole switch to begin with. Digital signals are, despite the boasts of new technology, actually inferior because the broadcast range is much shorter. I see no reason for the mandating of digital only signals, I think broadcasters should have either had the choice and let the market decide, or allowed them to broadcast duel signals. "House Republicans have voted down an extension for the digital switch" Imagine that, congress making life difficult, *gasp* *shock*

I think that the switch is a great idea. I have one HD TV and two older tvs. I'm on a waiting list for the damn coupons though. I think that if this is going on then even the people who waited to try and get coupons should be able to receive them!!! I think it's bull that there's not money for this now!